Shin Kogei Handmade Dolls Woodblock Printed : Birds

Founded in Hida-Takayama in the snowy north of Gifu prefecture by a local artist, Shin Kogei are known for their woodblock print animals. Hida-Takayama was an important castle town in the Middle Ages, and today has a fine tradition for wooden furniture.

Shin Kogei use this wood to make their printing blocks. The design of animals that can be seen in Hida- Takayama, are transferred to the woodblocks and hand dyed onto natural cotton. Each colour designates a different block used, showing the time spent on each. The animals are filled with natural casks and hand sewn.